Shelf-dispenser



(5. G. NORRIS SHELF-DISPENSER July 4, 1967 Filed Aug. 16, 1965 INVENTOR. GU) G. NOR/PIS United States Patent 3,329,280 SHELF-DISPENSER Guy G. Norris, El Paso, Colo. (210 Crystal Park Road,

. Manitou Springs, Colo. 80829) Filed Aug. 16, 1965, Ser. No. 480,008 3 Claims. (Cl. 211-134) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A dispensing device for use with shelving having a vertically standing rib transverse to a. shelf on which it is placed. A slider having a stock platform and a pushing plate is slidably connected to the rib by a channel member attached to the slider and in which the rib is disposed for sliding movement.

The present invention relates to dispensing apparatus for shelving, and more particularly, to an improvement directed to the simplicity and economy of such a device.

The prior art has seen the development of shelving separators which function to dress bottled or canned goods to the front position of a shelf, but these devices have never seen significant commercial success, primarily because of their unit cost and the expense of installation.

It is, therefore, the object of this invention to provide a sliding product dispenser characterized by its simplicity of construction and its economy.

The second object is derivative from the first; more particularly, the objective is to provide a shelving attachment which is easy to install and to move from one position to another and which is especially adapted for use with light weight goods such as those found in drug stores and the like.

A preferred form of the device will be described in detail and reference will be made to the following drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation view of the shelf dispenser with a phantom view representing an advance position of the slider.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view taken to the opposite side to that of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the shelf dispenser.

FIGURE 4 is a front end view of the dispenser.

FIGURE 5 is a rear end view thereof.

The dispensing apparatus is generally referred to by reference numeral 5 and is shown in FIGURE 1 in position on a shelf 6, preferably one having a metallic structure. A rail or base member 7 may be best seen in FIG- URES 3 and 4 and may be constructed from sheet material to form a base plate 8 with a centrally disposed upstanding rib 10. The rib 10 forms a rail upon which the sliding member 12 is mounted. The base plate 8 is designed to be attached to the upper surface of the shelf by magnetic bars 13, provided of course, that the shelf is of magnetic material. Conventional wooden shelving would still require that the base plate 8 be fastened by screws or the like. Where the metal shelving is of woven wire or grate type, rubber feet attached to the base plate may be pressed into the openings of the shelving to secure the apparatus in place.

3,329,280 Patented July 4, 1967 The sliding member is provided with a retainer strip 14 fastened to the side 15 of the slider in order to form -a groove 16 in which the rail 10 is disposed for sliding en. gagement. To form a seat for the last shelf item 20, a small platform 21 is formed so as to extend laterially and horizontally from the side 15. Extending upwardly from the rearmost edge of the platform 21 is a push plate 25 adapted to engage the last shelf item 20 and push it into an advance position on the shelf 6 as the goods are removed therefrom.

In operation, a number of dispensers may be placed side by side on a shelf. Each is loaded with merchandise by placing the packaged goods next to the side 15 and resting on the portion of the base 8 directly thereunder. As the packages are removed from the shelf, the more rearwardly placed goods are advanced to the front of the shelf by pulling the sliding member forward.

Having thus described the several useful and novel features of the shelf dispenser of the present invention in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that the many worthwhile objectives for which it was designed have been achieved. Although but a few of the several possible embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described herein, I realize that certain additional modifications may well occur to those skilled in the art within the broad teaching hereof; hence, it is my intention that the scope of protection afforded hereby shall be limited only insofar as said limitations are expressly set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A dispensing device for use with shelving comprising;

a flat base member having a raised rib centrally thereof;

a slider comprising a vertical side disposed adjacent said rib and having a platform portion and a follower attached to the said vertical side; and

a retainer strip attached to the vertical side and parallel with said base member and forming a channel in which said rib is disposed.

2. The combination of claim 1 and further including a magnetic foot attached to the underside of the base memher.

3. A shelving and dispensing apparatus including;

a horizontal shelf;

a single track forming upstanding rib attached to the shelf and disposed in transverse relation thereto;

a vertical plate transverse to the rib and perpendicular to the shelf, said plate having means attaching it to the rib for slidable movement longitudinally of the rib.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 735,716 8/1903 Dahlquist 248298 1,702,987 2/1929 Wilson 211-49 1,712,054 5/1929 Sheard 10861 2,145,563 l/l939 Watson 31271 2,557,399 6/1951 Teetor 40-1O ROY D. FRAZIER, Primary Examiner. CLAUDE A. LEROY, Examiner. W. D. LOULAN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A DISPENSING DEVICE FOR USE WITH SHELVING COMPRISING; A FLAT BASE MEMBER HAVING A RAISED RIB CENTRALLY THEREOF; A SLIDER COMPRISING A VERTICAL SIDE DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID RIB AND HAVING A PLATFORM PORTION AND A FOLLOWER ATTACHED TO THE SAID VERTICAL SIDE; AND 